128 CAT-BIRD. 



any other season, the most perfect imitations have no effect 

 whatever on him. 



The Cat-bird will not easily desert its nest. I took two eggs 

 from one which was sitting, and in their place put two of the 

 Brown Thrush, or Thrasher; and took my stand at a conveni- 

 ent distance to see how she would behave. In a minute or two 

 the male made his approaches, stooped down and looked earn- 

 estly at the strange eggs; then flew off to his mate, who was 

 not far distant, with whom he seemed to have some conversa- 

 tion, and instantly returning, with the greatest gentleness took 

 out both the Thrasher's eggs, first one and then the other, 

 carried them singly about thirty yards, and dropt them among 

 the bushes. I then returned the two eggs I had taken, and soon 

 after the female resumed her place on the nest as before. 



From the nest of another Cat-bird I took two half fledged 

 young, and placed them in that of another which was sitting on 

 five eggs. She soon turned them both out. The place where the 

 nest was, not being far from the ground, they were little injured, 

 and the male observing their helpless situation, began to feed 

 them with great assiduity and tenderness. 



I removed the nest of a Cat-bird, which contained four eggs, 

 nearly hatched, from a fox grape vine, and fixed it firmly and 

 carefully in a thicket of briars close by, without injuring its 

 contents. In less than half an hour I returned, and found it again 

 occupied by the female. 



The Cat-bird is one of our earliest morning songsters, begin- 

 ning generally before break of day, and hovering from bush to 

 bush, with great sprightliness, when there is scarce light sufficient 

 to distinguish him. His notes are more remarkable for singularity 

 than for melody. They consist of short imitations of other birds, 

 and other sounds; but his pipe being rather deficient in clearness 

 and strength of tone, his imitations fail where these are requi- 

 site. Yet he is not easily discouraged, but seems to study certain 

 passages with great perseverance; uttering them at first low, 

 and as he succeeds, higher and more free; no ways embarrassed 

 fcy the presence of a spectator even within a few yards of him. 



